• Sybil Mallonee, Larissa Tate, Fernanda De Oliveira, and Augusto Ruiz.
• Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814.
• Mil Med. 2020 Feb 12; 185 (1-2): e38-e42.

IntroductionPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) negatively impacts service members at high rates, causing considerable physical and psychological consequences. Additionally, many service members experience subthreshold PTSD (i.e., experiencing PTSD symptoms that do not meet full diagnostic criteria), which has also been shown to cause significant functional impairment and can be a precursor to the development of full PTSD. Typically, treatment for PTSD at Walter Reed National Military Center facility includes weekly outpatient individual therapy over a three-month period or referral to an intensive outpatient program (IOP), which emphasizes group treatment. Inclusion in these programs is dependent on the severity of symptoms. Service members with subthreshold symptoms do not typically qualify for an IOP, and weekly outpatient therapy does not meet the needs of some service members or their commands.MethodsAs a result, we developed an alternative program with the intention of allowing service members with subthreshold PTSD to receive treatment and return to full-duty status more rapidly. The program emphasized bi-weekly evidenced-based PTSD therapies treatment adjusted to meet the needs of each service member along with the option of adjunct individual and group treatments.ResultsWhile this program is ongoing and we have not yet conducted outcome data analyses, the structure and pace of this program have the potential to produce quicker functional improvements, prevent the development of full PTSD symptoms, and reduce long-term or recurring healthcare utilization.ConclusionAlthough more research is needed, there exists preliminary empirical evidence of efficacy for an accelerated protocol of biweekly evidence-based therapy for service members with subthreshold PTSD.DisclaimerThe opinions expressed in this abstract are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, the Department of Defense, or the United States Government. Additionally, the authors have no conflicts of interests to report.Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2019. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.

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